Listen, Canada-born white canadians, you’re a dying breed. You need us, new immigrants. You need us to keep your housing market moving, to work in the IT sector, to fill up your schools and daycares, to take care of your elderly. Especially in the Atlantic, which has something like 0.4 percent of the country’s immigrants. That is pathetic.
So, start acting a bit more friendly to immigrants- the visible and the audible minority. Stop avoiding eye contact. Stop pretending you don’t see us- your painful efforts are noticeable and noticed. Stop not replying to our e-mails, not returning our calls and invites (you’re glad to guzzle free “ethnic” food whenever/wherever it’s offered to you, I notice). Stop acting as if you’re doing us a huge favour by allowing us to be here. We came here legally- with visas which your government issued. Open your house and homes- we don’t bite! Don’t smile at us only when we’re paying for something.
Oh, why do I even bother. Never mind. Our children will go to McGill and UofT, while yours are planting marijuana in Spryfield. And in fifty years time, YOU will be the visible minority.
—Thenewcomer
This article appears in Sep 17-23, 2009.
Immigrants with attitude! Just what this country needs! Let us not forget that Canada was created on the backs and hard work of we white Canadians. Most of us choose to excel in life. Your pathetic rant about our offspring all aspiring to be Spryfield horticulturists is uncalled for. Our universities are filled with our Canadian-born white children too. So get over yourself!
Your ‘gratitude’ to your new country is over-whelming! You don’t even deserve to be here with your ill-conceived notions about who Haligonians are. Here’s a concept for you: Halifax IS Halifax because of the Haligonians. Here’s another concept: Being Canadian means being respectful of others, a concept you obviously have missed. Your remarks are racist and ignorant. Clearly, you need to re-evaluate your superiority complex and learn that one does not slap the face of the host once you get inside the door. I’ll tell you what this country DOES NOT need: immigrants with insulting attitudes!
BTW: There are lots of us who DO greet immigrants we encounter. In my experience, most ignore you, turn their eyes down and pretend you are not even there.
Um- you are shocked that people don’t like you? Heck, I’m not even Canadian and I don’t like you with that attitude.
I’m an immigrant. Based on your post I really don’t like you or your attitude. If people are not looking at you or returning your emails then there are other issues I suspect.
BTW: Your first paragraph contradicts itself: if there are only 0.4% of immigrants in the Atlantic then they really don’t need us to keep the housing market moving, work in IT or fill the schools as you suggest.
I suspect you’re just trolling, but just in case you’re not I suggest you either get a serious attitude re-adjustment or find a new ‘home’. Most of us have integrated well into Halifax / Nova Scotia and love it here.
What a condescending, sneering attitude you have – little wonder you’re treated like you are, you pompous fuck.
OP, your post was a bit harsh and maybe a bit full of generalizations and stereotypes; you kind of espouse the attitude of those you’re criticizing. Try to drop it. However, I do agree with one thing you said – we do need more immigrants in the Atlantic provinces and a bit more cultural integration without destroying cultures themselves. We need more people period to get the kind of services that other provinces enjoy. Hang in there, OP – don’t let your anger get the better of you. I’m not an immigrant, but I’m sure my ancestors felt much of the same when they were 4-6 generations. Being in a new place is difficult and I can understand the frustration. Thinking constantly in a language that is not your own is tiring; or, if you speak the language perfectly it’s frustrating to hear responses of people who think you don’t.
PS. To Oceanlady – I can think of at least one piece of infrastructure in this country that was not created by ‘whites’ – and perhaps the most important piece of infrastructure the CN railway. Also, in the process of ‘whites hard work’ I think we managed to destroy a couple of hundred cultures that were native to this continent. We owe all this to cultural/racial profiling, wish we would all (OP included) drop that attitude.
Most immigrants came here for a “better life”- so why not pack your shit, go back to your home cuntry for a while, and let some others try this gig called Canada.
You come off as such an asshole with your “Oh, why do I even bother. Never mind. Our children will go to McGill and UofT, while yours are planting marijuana in Spryfield. And in fifty years time, YOU will be the visible minority.” comment.
Enjoy the winters in Scarborough, its where you belong.
popeye and Guyute… that’s so typically Nova Scotian of you. “If you don’t like it when we treat you like shit then go home” Grow up, ya bullies.
GET OVER YOURSELF: Listen here OP nobody asked you to come here, so you can take your immigrant ass back to where ever you came from. I think YOU need Canada more then it needs YOU.
Your attitude and outlook suggests that you should probably go live elsewhere the States perhaps or somewhere besides Canada we don’t need people like you here.
Your approch is terriable, and your statements are untrue, raciest, you have truly proven how ignorant, and uneducated you really are.
Peninsularpie – good one. I have to lol at people who say “this country was built by whites” … preposterous. As a white person I am embarrassed by that statement.
Have to agree with Cranky, though…OP, you come off as kind of a dick. It sounds like you felt you were better than Nova Scotians before you ever got here.
Posters: Don’t hate on all immigrants just because the OP is a d-bag. I’m an immigrant and judging by the OP’s post, I don’t like her much either.
We’ll, all of North America was built by “immigrants” in a sense. But I HARDLY believe the animosity the OP is receiving is because he is an immigrant. Its more likely his personality and demeanour, which is clearly demonstrated in this post.
peninsularpie,
Your patient, intelligent and understanding response to OP was impressive.
OP,
Just a note: when you choose to use weapons (insults instead of diplomacy) to get your point across, you put people on the defensive and usually their response is to retaliate. Although you are angry, if it is respect that you truly want, you might try using a respectful manner next time.
That said…
If you were a more generous person, you would assume that most people (not just Canadians) avoid strange and new things, not because of prejudice, but because they have fear. Generally, they fear appearing foolish if they cannot understand your perfectly good English because you have a strong accent. They fear that they will inadvertently insult you because they know little of your culture. And, of course, they fear your preconceived notions based on stereotypes of Canadians, just as you fear their preconceived notions of your culture based on stereotypes. It is unfortunate that some people respond to their fear by surrounding themselves with a protective barrier created with biased and misinformed blanket statements. But, if you want them to see your actual worth, you must break down the barriers that blind them. You do not do this by throwing shit at them. You do this with patience, understanding and by setting a good example. I am sure that you know this already, as it is the very thing that you are asking of them.
Its obvious that the reason people don’t look at you or invite you over is because you’re an asshole. Don’t read anything else into it. Its just that simple. Treat people how you want to be treated.
Ummm … this is an incredibly racist bitch. I doubt the Coast would have printed a “go home immigrants bitch” with the same attitude. This shouldn’t have been published.
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! OP—you are way out of line.
For the record, I support, and have seen the benefits of, immigration, diversity, and multiculturalism. I am VERY pro-immigration, and VERY anti-racist, and I SYMPATHIZE that it can be difficult to start your life over in a foreign place.
But YOU are the one perpetuating the ugly stereotypes here. And just being a newcomer does not give you unlimited privilege to have your opinions go unchallenged. Free speech works BOTH ways.
It’s YOU who decided to come HERE. I don’t care if you moved here from 100 miles away or 10,000 miles away, “WE” (those of us reading this blog with our morning coffee) are just living our our own lives, minding our own business, getting on with the day-to-day—all of us: nice people and assholes, successful people and losers, everyone in between—the whole shebang that makes up a society—and YOU come on LTWWB and complain that no one rolls out the red carpet and strikes up the brass band everytime you walk into the room . . . because . . . why? Because you, uh . . . moved here from somewhere else?
Well, guess what? No one would bow down before me in eternal gratitude if I took MY skills to work and improve YOUR home country* and no one here is going to throw a party for you every day just because you show up at YOUR job here. See how it works? It’s called normal life.
And regarding your stereotypes of shiftless Canadians, well, dear OP, do tell us please—in the paradise that is YOUR home country, are there NO social problems? Is there no drug abuse? Family violence? Corruption? Prostitution? Poverty?
Oh, and how is the human rights record where you are from? Any journalists in jail? Any public beheadings? Any acid attacks on “disobedient” child brides? Any crushing of women for “suspicion of adultery?”
What are the religious choices like? Are the people free to believe what they want? What is the dress code? What are the penalties for non-compliance?
How is the water supply—nice and drinkable right from the tap? How’s the court system—any chance of a fair trial? How’s the mail system, the highway infrastructure, the literacy rate, the education system, the electricity, the hospitals?
I’m just asking. There must be SOME reason you left wherever it was you are from.
If you want to make a contribution to this city, this province, this country—THIS YOUNG COUNTRY—start doing what everyone else who immigrated here does and has done for centuries: Prove yourself. Get to work. Raise your family. Participate in the community. BE CONSTRUCTIVELY CRITICAL where improvement is needed. Live your life. And while you’re at it, brush that chip off your shoulder and make an effort to be a part of things.
And by the way, have you not yet noticed that all the different people you lump together as “white” are immigrants or decendants of immigrants, some quite recent, and many of whom had a MUCH more difficult time getting established here than any modern-day newcomer ever will.
*One other thing: Canadians do tremendous peacekeeping and development work in the most miserable countries in the world, often RISKING THEIR LIVES to do so. They get very little “gratitude”, there or at home, for efforts such as getting clean water to remote villages or establishing schools for girls. All THEY ask in return is that the locals please stop trying to KILL them with roadside bombs.
A little perspective, please.
RubyJane I love you. Well thoughtout and said. I agree 100%
I hope Immigration Canada is reading this. THESE are the types of immigrants Canada doesn’t need. How about tracing the IP address of the poster and deporting them back where they came from.
I bet your home country hates you too.
You kinda SORTA had my sympathies, OP until that spryfield part. I figured you were just some average immigrant who got treated like crap and had to vent.
But that last crack pretty much sums up the fact for me that you’re a pompous asshole and it’s probably your own fault you’re treated like shit.
Anyone who’s taken a basic HR econ course knows Canada needs immigrants, but what we don’t need are ones with stinky attitudes such as this. Maybe if you improved your attitude, OP, you’d find people would be a lot more welcoming.
RubyJane, you are my new favorite poster. Your post blew me away! You pretty much said all there is to be said!!!
RubyJane, your response to OP was thoughtful, informed, detailed, pertinent and constructive. I appreciate the time that it must have taken you to write such a response, and it was a pleasure to read.
Methinks the kids planting dope in Spryfield would be richer, and a lot less in debt, but that’s just me.
Anyhoo, I bow to Rubyjane and her awesome post. Nailed it.
Don’t let the door hit you on the ass on the way out.
Wow, it seems like I touched a raw nerve here.
Of course there are plenty good things about Canada- the government service, the air quality, the education system, free press etc- which cause immigrants to choose to remove themselves from their home, and relocate here. The subject of this particular bitch is that the welcoming friendly attitudes of the locals ain’t one of them. Nevertheless, despite this lack, many immigrants CHOOSE to make Canada their homes, although of course socialising with other immigrants from their country of origin in the process.
What I said about Canada needing new immigrants- I didn’t make that up. Flip through any academic journal on immigration, and you’ll see the same, couched in different terms.
OK, maybe I am a douchebag, with a superiority complex, (I certainly have better vocabulary than most of the comments here), unable to make new friends, whatever, although I assure you I never had this (minor) problem in the other cities and countries where I’ve lived -and not just my country of origin either. When was the last time you saw an ethincally mixed group of people (natives and visible minorities) socialising on some non-work-related function in Halifax? (not counting the Alderny multiculti thing) When was the last time you saw a visible minority and visible majority person having coffee together in Tim Hortons? When was the last time YOU reached out to some one who was obviously a recent immigrant, bumbling their way through those traumatic first months?
Now as for respect: the last time I checked, having a respectful attitude was not required when posting a bitch. How can you deduce from the tone of a bitch that I am not a respectful (and indeed respected) person in real life? And BTW, to the person who threatened me with deportation- you can’t deport someone for posting a disrespectful or annoying bitch on the The Coast. Just sayin’ And if my bitch is racist, then some of the comments look like Ku Klux Klan, to me.
As regards whether The Coast would publish a bitch which expressed the opposite sentiment, I distinctly remember reading a bitch where the subject of complaint was too much cologne used by “fuckin’ Arabs”.
Back to work. Which I obviously STOLE from poor native Nova SCotian- can’t be just because I had better qualifications, huh?
Check out the Atlantic Film Festival, starting tonight, Newcomer. You’ll find a plethora of people with all different backgrounds coming together over a love for film.
Whatever gave you the idea that what the govenrment does (aka grants visa’s to assholes like yourself) means we who live under their BS actually agree with their decission to allow you to come here ?
That we who reside here have to give a shit about you ?
Not that I have any problems with immigration for those who want to come to Canada & become Canadians…& not wish to form your own little recreation of, whatever shit hole was so terrible, you left it for Canada in the first place. You see my Grandmother on my mom’s side came to Canada as a young girl with her mother & father from England. My fathers family has been here since the 1700’s from Scotland, so I am a descendant of immigrants on both sides.
They came here & worked hard , brought up their families , and became Canadians. Not Scottish Canadians or British Canadian’s…just Canadians, so lighten up & try some Canadian bacon with your eggs & pancakes with real maple syrup. Because ethnic foods not bad now & then, but I for one wouldn’t want to live on it !
“When was the last time you saw an ethincally mixed group of people (natives and visible minorities) socialising on some non-work-related function in Halifax?”
Hmm, let’s see, how about almost every social gathering I’ve ever hosted or attended?
“When was the last time you saw a visible minority and visible majority person having coffee together in Tim Hortons?”
Probably the last time my bf (an immigrant) and I went to Tim Hortons.
“When was the last time YOU reached out to some one who was obviously a recent immigrant, bumbling their way through those traumatic first months?”
When I went next door to bring over some homemade cookies to welcome and get to know the people that just moved in.
I find your small-minded generalizations of Nova Scotians to be offensive, newcomer. It’s too bad you’ve had some shitty interactions since moving here, but by stereotyping at large the populace of NS, you’re automatically closing yourself off to any positive interactions you could have with the people around you.
While you may assume from looking at me that I’m just another white Canadian, I’m the product of previous generations of various ethnicities and countries of origin who had to struggle and overcome adversity to make their home here, and I think that’s a pretty common history for a lot of people here.
Sure, there are rascists, jerks and unwelcoming people here, but you can find that anywhere, and you don’t always have to be an immigrant or a visible minority to experience that. By making unfounded assumptions and ignorant comments, painting an entire group of people with the same brush, you’ve become the very thing that you’re rallying against.
As an immigrant country Canada has dealt with “us” vs “them” issues for a long time, Nova Scotia included. Consider what the difficulties the Acadians, the loyalists and the Irish immigrants encountered with respect to immigration.
I echo what Meow has said. I have worked and gone to school with and have long-standing friendships with immigrants to Halifax from various ethnic backgrounds and I have not heard them complain of the same things as the OP. I am sure it happens, but it isn’t too hard to find helpful and welcoming Nova Scotians.
For the OP to call the lack of immigrants to Halifax “pathetic” is also way off side. It just doesn’t make sense for people to come here when you can choose any city in Canada to move too. Unless you have a job already lined up, immigrating to Halifax would probably not be your best move. For a young country like Canada, that already struggles with identity issues, to have a city and province that is familiar with and even proud of it’s cultural roots is a blessing. I would like to see Halifax thrive and immigration might be an important part of that, but not if it means attracting those who see our history and culture as “a dying breed” and can’t wait for the day that the locals will “be the visible minority”.
Wasn’t this exact same bitch posted months ago? The eye contact part made me think of it. You know, in some cultures avoiding eye contact is a sign of respect.
Newcomer,
My friends over the years have originated from India, Sierra Leone and Nigeria (as well as other African countries), Brazil (as well as other South American countries), Mexico, Lebanon (as well as other Arabic speaking nations), Holland, Germany, Russia, Poland, Taiwan, Malaysia, and on and on. I enjoyed their company at their homes and in their temples. In fact, the last person I dated was East-Indian. Do you include any and all cultures into your selection of friends? Can people whom you associate with come from any class? Are you prepared to offer what you demand?
As far as the respect issue goes (which was observed within the context of your bitch), I saw no signs of respect here–either by you or for you. You alienated people. Perhaps it is this tendency that has inhibited people from associating with you outside of work.
Actually, Canada needs population growth to pay for the entitlement programs that “The Greatest Generation” and their offspring developed. The current view is that immigration is the best method to get that population growth. Programs to raise birthrates or reduce the scope of entitlement programs would reduce the need for immigration. So to say that Canada “needs immigrants” is only true to the extent that the need is a result of a set of public policy choices.
I’ve got to wonder reading this again if some 6-fingered Haligonian murdered Thenewcomer’s father and he now seeks revenge. It’s certainly worded that way.
Uhmm..the last time I personally saw people of mixed ethnicities out socializing together was at my table at the Lower Deck last weekend. The fact that I need to think about who was from where at our table would be indicative of the fact that I really do not care. However if I recall correctly we had : 1 French Acadian, 2 East Indians, 4 plain old Nova Scotians one black male (whom I am sure hadjust finished harvesting his weed crop in Spryfield). Strangely enough we sat there for the evening without needing the police. Go Figure.
Plastic Diver Guy, you mean:
Inigo Montoya:
“That is the sound of ultimate suffering. My heart made that sound when the six-fingered man killed my father. The Man in Black makes it now.”
The Princess Bride
Immigrants like you don’t usually stay in Nova Scotia, thank goodness. They usually head off to some ghetto in Toronto, Monteal, Vancouver. When I came here I deliberately stayed away from people of my home country and made sure my family made friends with people our own age and also active in the community.
Immigration in this country is a mess. I have worked with people from all over the world and those who choose to stay in NS have never regretted their decision.
As for who built the country, the answer is simple – those who came here several centuries ago and risked all. If you came here after 1960 then all you have done is change the paint & wallpaper in the house called Canada. I am one who realise the house was built by people who made a much greater sacrifice and took a far greater risk than I.
Newcomer, here is what “touches a nerve.”
When it is pointed out that you are not only breaching a social etiquette but clearly acting like an asshole, and you whine that every person who doesn’t like you (for some mysterious reason) must obviously be “unfriendly to immigrants” when this is clearly not the case—you fail to connect with a few cold people and so you insult the entire nation—THAT touches a nerve.
I can name any number of countries where disregarding “local custom” would mean torture or death. Canadian cultural norms are much looser but they DO exist and people are surely allowed to acknowlege this without having to endure accusations of being “racist” or “anti-immigrant.”
“White” people are not the only people with a racial superiority complex—lots of other races and nationalities have that too, and it doesn’t make it right.
Some people, like our “Newcomer” OP love to complain endlessly about how Canadians are too reserved, stand too far apart, don’t like to hug, don’t like cologne, “give” women too much freedom, have no respect for tradition, let their kids choose their own careers and marriage partners, eat bland food, have pets in their houses, and, worst of all, cause deep and damaging trauma and offense by asking that most Canadian of questions “Where are you from?”
It seems to me that Canadians bend over backwards to welcome, accomodate and indeed, embrace the people who come here as skilled immigrants and also as refugees—there is no other country in the world that makes the efforts we do to facilitate the co-existence of people from diverse and varied parts of the world.
And, maybe you haven’t noticed this yet, but Canadians are occasionally asked to go far beyond the bounds of “reasonable accomodation” and set aside the very laws and principles that have made Canada the just and progressive society it has (only recently) just become—and again we are called “racist” when we say that, as flexible as may be, certain things are simply not acceptable here.
And I am not just referring to people of the so-called “visible” ethnicities—I have had arguments with Europeans about these very same things.
I stand by my guess that the place where our dear OP came from doesn’t offer anything close to our tradition of “reasonable accommodation” to the foreigners who show up THERE to visit, study, work, etc.
And yet, when the rolese are reversed, our extraordinary efforts to be fair, just, open and accepting are deemed “not good enough” for the OP, a struggling, suffering, hard-done-by IT professional, with a secure and high-paying job (boo hoo hoo) who for some reason is having difficulties making friends in Halifax.
Newcomer, what exactly is it about you that makes you so very extra special that we should all fall in love with you and, as you say, “invite you into our homes?”
You haven’t said much yet that makes me want to send you any invitations.
Um, yes OP, that’s why we have an entire building called ”Pier 21″ dedicated to the immigrants that entered Canada at earlier points of time. You’re welcome?
I’d like immigrants to speak up and tell us their oath or visa responsibilities when they come to this country and if this bitch resembles any such thing.
I’ve had to obtain a work visa for a short-term American project and it was NOT an easy process. Other American’s could have done the job if such history with the project requirements were not so important to the task. US immigration did everything they could to refuse my visa application.
As for being better qualified than ANY Canadian to do your tech job in a town with 9 Universities, I’d like you to just do the math on that, Thenewcomer. Fact is, if we challenge your work visa with a similar skill set you can say good-bye. Then sign me up!!! I’m no junior and have been holding my degree for two decades now.
Our MP may want to talk to you and I’m SURE he’s able to learn who your employer is easily enough since you’re posting this garbage from work. One can hope, anyway. I did my part.
For the record, I hate this town. You’ll find a warmer reception and have an easier time meeting quality people downtown Toronto or even Montreal. I was recruited here probably for the same company that recruited you (or their competitor) and likely for a similar IT role. The difference between you and me is your immigration status. Nobody’s going to throw me out of my country for slaggin’ the locals but I can’t say the same for you.
The fact that you’re an immigrant is hardly a reason for Nova Scotians to treat you like shit because they treat everybody like shit especially each other. Let me suggest the geek step into the music/art scene and there you’ll find even-footing.
Either way, you found the right place to piss off Nova Scotians… like me. Congrats.
Kay, can you tell us what happened (or didn’t) to make you feel so unwelcome here? What expectations weren’t met? I’m genuinely curious because you don’t seem to see ANY of the good things about this city. I’ll grant you that there are some jerks and assholes and bad attitudes, but I meet really nice and helpful and genuine people everyday. When I ignore the bad, it’s a lot easier to see the good. So, seriously, why so glum?
It’s taken a couple of years to find a handful of trustworthy people but considerable effort has been made to connect with quality individuals.
My experience is unique to being a slim, healthy, independent woman in this town. The locals seem to think women should be able to arm wrestle the biggest guy in the neighborhood to gain social footing or trust. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen catty women go at each other, like, physically fight, going on about how problems get solved “around here”. They’re brutes! They look like they just painted themselves up and stepped out of the trailer park and their diction says they dropped out in grade 6 yet these are common women of Nova Scotia. They’re tough. They’re mean. They do not welcome you. They hate you and go from there. I try to maintain grace in such an environment and it’s often difficult and I’ve since become a top poster on LTWWB.
On the other side of things, men come on to me very aggressively even with my husband on my arm. They avoid challenging him but come on to me just the same. It’s like we’ve come to the town of the swingin’ dicks and he with the longest wins? I don’t know what it is exactly and it certainly doesn’t apply to ALL men and ALL women here but generally speaking it’s hateful place to hang out and just be yourself.
Finally, we watch. We watch and we listen. It’s unbelievable how many natural born liars are out there. Sick relationships full of infidelity and lies. I found this in the professional realm here too.
It’s all been very discouraging. The work I do now will help to improve attitudes here one family at a time so I’ll stick it out a while longer. I also suspect HRM is the new Calgary, economically speaking, so it would be stupid of me to leave now… but I might… I just might.
As much as I blew my stack over this bitch I can sure identify with some of what Thenewcomer says.
Uh, excuse me, I posted a an excerpt from my letter to my MP about this bitch. Why has it been removed? Do you think the censorship committee works at the MP’s office too? Please explain.
Kay,
I know we’ve discussed your issue with Nova Scotians before, and I know it’s off topic with this particular thread . . . but I’ll bite . . . Kay, I HONESTLY don’t meet many of these tough arm-wrestling trailer park sleazebags who seem to be such a bane for you.
Maybe I just move in different circles. Yes, I know people like that EXIST all over the place, but I just don’t interact with many people like that in the course of my ordinary day.
Look, I have surmised that we are probably about the same age, and grew up in similar circumstances in Alberta. And some of your letters remind me of myself, especially when I was younger.
But it just seems that over the past 20 years, I have been able to divest myself of at least SOME of the jerks and assholes that show up in the course of life, and for the most part have managed to surround myself with decent, fun, pleasant, smart, educated, well-travelled people, who I enjoy being with and who (seem to) enjoy being with me.
My friends, my extended family, my co-workers, my students, all (OK not all, but MOST) are good people . . . I just don’t make much room anymore for people who make my life miserable. I don’t have the physical time, or the mental energy for that kind of drama.
You often insist here that people are responsible for taking control of their lives, that they should not be “victims” — and I agree, for the most part. And I also understand your frustrations when people let you down, or don’t live up to the most basic expectations and responsibilities.
But I also maintain that people, like you and I, are responsible for their own PERCEPTIONS of the world, just as much as they are responsible for dealing with the realities in it.
And I will also maintain, that human beings are full of surprises, even though you claim to disagree. People continually surprise me, each and every day, and I am not exaggerating. (And I’m not a pollyanna or cock-eyed optimist by any stretch, either, trust me.) I bet even our OP has a good side that we aren’t seeing in this context. He’s probably a pretty decent guy, but we’ll never know unless he reveals a side of himself he has not yet shown.
Kay, I am the first person in line to quote the adage “if you’ve got people you’ve got problems” but I make a conscious effort to fight against that way of thinking because it’s far too easy. It’s the path of least resistance; the lazy way out. And too much of that way of thinking starts to corrode one’s sense of well being; it makes a person bitter and resentful, closed off from the better side of life.
So, I do my best to not let the jerks and assholes and losers—obviously one can’t avoid them completely—ruin my day or my life, and I get on with doing what I do and spend time with worthwhile people. (And of course, posting on LTWWB when procrastinating from other things I really should be doing.)
I’ll let you in on a secret. I used to have to deal with a lot of people like that in my old hometown (and I have posted here before about where that is and I am sure you can imagine that there was no shortage of them up there). But happiness really is the best revenge!
And you find this funny, but I saw a bunch of those gals—former bullies and skanks all—at my last high school reunion, all divorced and extremely fucked up, by the way, all at their very own “bitching table” swearing and snarling and getting uglier and angrier by the minute, while the rest of us laughed at them and spent the evening catching up with each other and having a good time.
Kay, no place will never be perfect. No person can ever be perfect. We can’t change this, we can only control how we ourselves deal with it and make improvements where we can.
I suspect that if you got out of your current surroundings more, really out or your everyday routine, you might meet more of the kind of people you would like to meet, and less of the other kind.
On behalf of Nova Scotia women everywhere: I take exception to Kay’s remarks specific to Nova Scotia women’s academic achievements. I am acquainted with many well-educated Nova Scotia women so I know we exist. Please don’t paint us all with the same brush, expand your social horizons. You might be surprised.
Canada was not built by immigrants. It was made by pioneers who built it from wilderness. They did not arrive to find a 1st World Nation filled with generous social programs.
0.4%? With arrogant filth like you, I’d like to get that down to 0.0%.
Is it possible you are being rejected because you are a major league douchebag.
The government does not represent me. If I was working in the government there would be zero visas issued to whatever hellhole you fled to come to our great country.
We ARE doing you a favor by allowing you to come here. Why else would you have come here? To do us a favor? How generous! You’re welcome, you ungrateful turd. Notice how we are not trying to go to your country, because it would be a major step backward.
Your children will go to McGill and UofT while ours will be planting weed in Spryfield. You racist turd. I suppose you don’t see the irony.
NSer
Funny how the truth hurts.
To all who cared to reply with the nasty replies, try being a middle eastern Muslim for one day after 9/11 then come speak.
For fucks sake I was asked at the library once if I was a terrorist, when I was doing a project! Wow, I had no idea branding wasn’t for cows only, but also innocent civilians who have been living, working, paying taxes and volunteering with the community for the last 15 years! Yet, when the United States says boo, Canada says baaaaa!
I walk to work in the morning yet I think out of the 10’s of people I encounter, one smiles and says good morning to me.
Canada was build by immigrants, I guess you don’t keep up with the current issues of Natives wanting their lands and rights back.
Kind of makes me think of the Tower of Babel from the Bible – never really got the deeper meaning of it; aside from God maintaining dominance, it was a bit of a dick move. Everyone has a bit of a bias or slight case of xenophobia, whether they like it or not.
Something wrong about talking about “immy’gants” and “bears”? Nobody recognizes a good Simpson’s quote when they see one.
Randomness – just suppose for a minute that 30 million of us left next week and told the natives/aboriginals ‘ Thanks for the visit. Changed our minds we’re off back home. Here are the keys. I have my Euros, guilders, francs etc so the bank vaults are empty. Sorry for the mess we have left but Mother Nature will fix it. Have a nice day’
What good would that do for those poor people living on the land in the middle of nowhere ?
You should get down on your knees every day and say ‘Thank you Canada’.
You don’t know how fortunate you are to live in this wonderful country.
I really don’t take too much stock into what people like the OP and Kay are saying. Ultimately, they are the ones going through life thinking everyone around them is out to get them somehow. That’s no way to live, and in everyday life I stay away from negative people like this. Life in any city is what you make of it. I lived in Calgary for 3 years and didn’t like it, but it wasn’t because of the people. People are generally the same everywhere. Individual expectations and generalizations are what cause people like the OP and Kay to lash out like this. If you take people for what they are and don’t sweat the small stuff, life is much easier and happier.
Randomness,
I cannot imagine what Muslims living in English-speaking countries had go through since 9/11. The glimpses I saw into their experiences at that time made me feel afraid for them, and, frankly, ashamed. Although Canada has a history of turning her citizens into enemies when struck by fear (Japanese and Germans, most notably), Canada has improved since then. My only consolation for my embarrassment is that the people who experienced being grouped into a single type (due to the country of their origin or physical features) knew better than to do the same to the many because of the actions of a fearful and ignorant few.
NSer, you can seriously fuck off with your ignorant commentary. I’m willing to bet that your style of dress is similar to that of a lot of serial killers. Does that mean I should assume you’re serial killer?
I’m ashamed to share a nationality with people like you. I wish we could deport YOUR ass to some barren island in the middle of the North Atlantic, though I doubt you’d have the skills to survive outside your trailer park. (Oh and FYI, the ‘white dress thing’ is most commonly referred to as a dishdasha, although there are other regionally-specific terms for it. Educate yourself, dude)
And somebody tell me why it is that most people hear ‘immigrant’ and assume that people are coming here from some impoverished third world nation? There’s a big difference between ‘immigrant’ and ‘refugee’, and while there are certainly people immigrating from the third world, many are coming from privileged nations no less ‘civilized’ than ours. In addition, the majority of these immigrants, third world or otherwise, come from the educated upper and middle class of their society and even then are only able to come here with a sizable chunk of money, desirable employment skills and/or a business plan.
The Canada that we all enjoy WAS built by immigrants (on land stolen from the Natives), and I for one am grateful for the mesh of cultures that I experience by living here. NSer and the rest of the ignoramuses posting xenophobic garbage here: Diversity is what makes this country great. Unless you’re 100% pureblood Canadian Aboriginal, you’re the product of immigrants. Get over yourselves.
I’m getting so sick of Spryfield bashing on here!
Wow, it looks like a few of the more questionable comments posted here are being removed. Gotta love censorship! Then again, I guess The Coast has traditionally been a left-wing newspaper and is sticking to its roots I suppose. I would go on a bit more about free speech and all that, but I realize that in Canada absolute free speech does not technically exist and LTWWB is a private forum so there’s not much ground to stand on in that regard.
I’m not going to respond to this getting-to-be-epic thread except to say, please lay off with the accusations of “racism.” Prejudice? Maybe. But as I’ve said before, since whites are the majority in Atlantic Canada, we do not experience racism in a way that matters. Full stop. Please. It’s pathetic.
Q: I don’t know what comments were removed but I believe the Coast probably has a vested interest in making its forums relatively welcoming for all. If that includes “censoring” them by removing racist comments, so be it.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say the Coast has a vested interest in making its forums welcome for ALL, Mole Rat. I personally didn’t find some of the comments that were removed to be outrightly racist. Politically incorrect (by Canadian standards), questionable, and possibly hurtful, yes, but not necessarily racist.
The Coast has traditionally been and still is a left-leaning newspaper and their target group is still the young adult, left-leaning Halifax-hipster types. I can imagine that a ludicrous left-wing comment like, say, “we should all get together to blow up Stephen Harper and all the Conservatives!” would be much more likely to remain here on these forums than an equally ludicrous right-wing comment, such as “we should all get together to blow up Darrell Dexter and the NDP!”
Every newspaper has its biases of course, it’s just that some are more obvious than others. I would say that The Coast has quite an obvious left-wing bias.
Sorry, this topic is supposed to be about immigrants, isn’t it! Well I do like immigrants as long as they like me, too. Some do just use Canada for the benefits and support we offer which may cause some resentment, but it seems that most do work hard and contribute, and many contribute much more than born and bred Canadians. Plus, white people food is generally so boring – I love all the Indian, Chinese, Greek, Lebanese, and Turkish food. I also love learning about new cultures and languages.
what the fuck is that fool smoking.we need assholes like you, yeah, fucking right.methnks you are just a shit disturber,trying to get a race type thing going here. my advice to you, asshole,is to go take a complete flying fuck back to whatever rock,you crawled out from under.shitbag.
Randomness, I must be in a real Devil’s Advocate mood today.
OK, for the sake of argument, I was of the understanding that visible, conservative, obviously practicing Muslim men PREFERRED no eye contact or smiles from unrelated (“haram”) women. In fact, my understanding is that Muslim men themselves are OBLIGATED to avert their eyes in such situations.
Obviously, this is not MY rule—but quite clearly it is a very serious rule in Islam. Therefore, I actually make a point of NOT making eye contact with solemn, conservative-looking Muslim men because of THEIR insistence on such proprieties, not from any racism or unfriendliness on my part.
If Muslim men claim, as they so often do when arguing about traditional gender roles, that they can’t be expected to control themselves in the midst of the overwhelming brazen female sexuality demonstrated by all those “aggressive” Western women making eye contact or smiling “suggestively” at them at work and on the street (and I’m being sarcastic here) well then isn’t obvious that most sane women would just ignore, if not clearly avoid, that kind of man when passing him in the street? (And we are at least 50% of people in the street, since you seem to be interested in the statistics.)
And if a person is NOT an obvious practicing Muslim, ie not wearing traditional religious clothing . . . ie JUST ANOTHER REGULAR GUY IN ORDINARY CLOTHES WALKING DOWN THE STREET, how in the world can any lack of interest in your presence be interepreted as “anti-Islam” or “anti-immigrant” — or is it now “racist” to not run over to you fawn over you BECAUSE I, AND OTHER WOMEN, MAY HAVE SOMETHING MUCH MORE IMPORTANT ON OUR MINDS at any given moment than soothing some strange random man’s precious feelings of inadequacy and insecurity? What are you—a grown-up man or a lost baby?
Again, take some responsibility for the messages you send. A person who makes concerted effort to make visible their Muslim beliefs (as is their right under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms) should not act shocked when other people, non-muslims, actually respond in accordance with those beliefs, perhaps even more correctly than the supposed “expert” practitioner. Some of us ARE aware of what the rules of other religions are, you know, even if we are not obligated to follow them ourselves.
And if you are just an “ordinary guy” and want to be treated like an ordinary guy then ACT like an ordinary guy, and people will respond to you like an ordinary guy and you won’t find yourself so alienated when you walk down the street each day. Instead you’ll know a ton of people who are happy to see you and who will look you in the eye and smile and say “good morning” every time.
Sheesh!
I live in the often maligned community of Spryfield, and like Frizz I’m getting a little tired of having my community bashed. My neighbourhood is inhabited by respectable, hard working families not crack dealers and people running grow-ops. We are actually quite ethnically diverse, there are a lot of new Canadians living in the area and they don’t seem to be having any difficulties being accepted into the community. In fact, the strong sense of community I’ve experienced here far surpasses what I encountered while living in “better” parts of the city. I moved here because it was an area of the city where homes were still affordable, but I stay because it’s a good place to live.
When I said “welcoming to all” I meant on a basic human level, as in “you can log onto this site and not see comments saying that all blacks are addicted to crack”, or the N word, whatever. Some of the sites I read make an effort for their environment to be a “safe space” in that sense. I don’t think LTWWB falls into that category per se, but I’m sure there are some kind of guidelines. Personally I’ve reported comments I felt were racist or hateful, here and there, I doubt any were removed. I don’t know what any of the removed comments you speak of were like.
Broc, “thinking everyone around them is out to get them.” I don’t think that at all. I don’t want to know addicted, violent, angry, immature people and I find them hard to come by in NS. Nor do I “sweat the small stuff” so I’m annoyed by the hapless victims out there who find some excuse to hate and complain about other people. Yes, these people are disappointing creatures, people born to lose, and I have nothing in common with them.
Oceanlady, “Kay’s remarks specific to Nova Scotia women’s academic achievements.” I was speaking of my personal experience when I said, “They look like they just painted themselves up and stepped out of the trailer park and their diction says they dropped out in grade 6 yet these are common women of Nova Scotia” but that was AFTER I challenged the poster with “As for being better qualified than ANY Canadian to do your tech job in a town with 9 Universities.” I’m not the monster you want me to be.
RubyJane,”these tough arm-wrestling trailer park sleazebags”… are my neighbors and yours. “[You] have been able to divest [yourself] of … the jerks.” Ruby, I arrived in NS without a single jerk attached and I knew nobody when I arrived, much like the poster. I’ve found “that kind of drama” in many professional environments (shocking) as well as various social circles. Social life here has been akin to playground drama and I find myself with only a handful of acquaintances worth knowing. You say, “people… are responsible for their own PERCEPTIONS of the world.” I agree somewhat in that we manifest our own reality but you don’t get to control other people and I am a truth-seeker so rose coloured glasses just aren’t good enough for me. You said, “it makes a person bitter and resentful, closed off from the better side of life” and I wholeheartedly agree. I was a much happier person all-round before I moved here and thank God daily for an outlet such as LTWWB. I agree “happiness really is the best revenge” therefore I focus my skill set on improving what I can since I’m here and Ruby, trust me on this one
…I was the one who smiled back.
Kay, I guess we just must travel in different circles. I know of the kinds of Nova Scotians you are speaking about, but in my experience they are not the norm. I have also lived in other cities and Halifax is definitely no worse with respect to politeness than any other city I have experienced. So, I hope someday you can see the brighter side of Halifax.
halifax is a city experincing growing pains. and though it IS racist, it is on par with the racism of almost every other corner of the world. would a north american be treated differently if immigtraing to OP’s nation?
btw: i noticed OP didn’t mentioned which country he/she is from… this suggests the ‘bitch’ is a fabrication.
also– i LIKE marijuana- don’t you?– maybe some of it is grown and sold in spryfield, but some is grown and sold in dartmouth, the north end, the south end, fairview, the US, mexico, cental america, south america, europe, asia, africa… there are REAL evils out there, the green is not one of them.
Every time I go to Toronto I know why I live in Nova Scotia.
Miles, are you hot and healthy like me? We will probably NEVER experience the same thing here in the HRM. I’ll keep smilin’ at the bitches anyway. (They hate that, I don’t care anymore)
plushtashe *golf clap*
So, your problem with halifax is jealous women and horny men? Maybe you should stop hanging out at the bars and your life will improve. 😛
I first discovered this in the workplace… it got more and more surprising after that but nice try.
Hey, my show’s coming on. Good night, Miles.
For those of you who are having a hard time figuring out what it is about Halifax that has Kay’s outlook so jaded, let me help you out. But first let me applaud your efforts to offer Kay the opportunity to say what is really going on, and for your attempts to really listen to what she is saying… So here is the problem…The problem is Kay herself, not Halifax, its KAY…
First up, Kay is seriously deficient in the self-esteem department. Think about the bullies you know, and that is the common element in every one of them. Constantly blaming others and making wide sweeping negative generalizations about communities of people, is really just compensating for her own inadequecies.
Second fact, Kay’s sockpuppet is a liar. I have been reading the bitch session on the coast for a long long time. I can remember when she first started posting here, and I have read an awful lot of what she has posted on here. Emphasis on awful. So here’s the thing about liars. In order to be a good liar and get away with it, you need to have a good memory. Kay on the other hand either has a poor memory, or she just doesn’t care about the lies she posts. Bullshit is one thing, but someone who states facts and then contradicts them as sharply as she does, well lets just say that people like that in the end are only fooling themselves. Blatent and obvious examples are readily available if you dont believe me.
Third, the truth is that despite all the bravado, Kay is just a sad and lonely person. I have tried many times to reach out to Kay in the spirit of charity and goodwill, but she has rebuffed my efforts every time. I have no doubt that in real life there are others who have attempted to engage Kay in a positive, meaningful, and friendly way and have been met with the same spew of hatred in return. Kay has created for herself this massive on line experience to make up for the fact that she has no life. She claims to be hot and healthy, but is really the opposite. Hot and healthy does not make these kinds of posts. Fat, plain and nasty does. She hates the jealously she claims to see in others, but it is her own jealousy that is really eating her up.
Folks you don’t need a PhD in psych to know these things. You just need to have a sense about people. I have taken the time to write this post because I am fearful that some readers who listen to Kay’s relentless bashing of Halifax may actually start to believe that its true. And because what she is saying is not true, it is grossly unfair for her continue to do so. Fact is, Kay it is really just time that someone called you out for what you really are. Sorry if he truth hurts.
Floyd, that is exactly what I was trying to convey earlier. Great post!
Cliff Notes on Floyd’s post:
– Kay is a fucking miserable bitch.
– Don’t listen to Kay’s jaded opinion of Halifax (or anything else)
I want to point out that I just moved here from Quebec, and Montreal isn’t that bad, and they’re not that rude, neither are people from Halifax, or maybe I’m not just seeing the other side of it?
But, that being said, OP, don’t you dare categorize everyone into one group just because someone was being an asshole to you. It took me a bit to adjust from a small town to a ‘city’ but once I got my footing, I was floored by all the differences, racial and otherwise, and enjoyed it. Everyone was so nice. Just because I’m white doesn’t mean they all had to be nice to me.
I smile at everyone I see on the street, I do my bit to be kind to others, and maybe you should pull your head out of your ass and do the same, it might come around to you.
Once again LIFESUCKS opened his stupid assed mouth and proved the OP right. How fucking stupid can one person be…he continues to raise the bar.
Oh and as for being the only IT-capable person in a city with 9 universities..
Obviously that particular IT specialty is not taught at any of these 9 universities, or we’d have a plethora of gifted students to choose from.
That doesn’t make Kay any more intelligent than the average person, although she seems to contend that her unique skill makes her smarter than the rest of us.
I’ve seen brain surgeons who couldn’t program their VCR even WITH the manual. Or excellent car mechanics who can’t hook up a basic stereo system.
I’m one of the MANY Canadians who has served in the military. I was lucky enough to live in half the provinces of this country, and work in every province/territory also.
I’ve also travelled around the world and having seen the atrocities of human experience in a few different places. In particular…Beijing.. dozens of little girls on the street following us, saying “Daddy, daddy”.. despicable and a memory I’ll be haunted by forever.
I’m someone who has jumped at every opportunity to speak and joke with those of other cultures. I was raised to be a gentleman, so I’m one who holds doors, or waits for someone in an elevator.. I’m always positive with a smile and love to meet new people.
I worked in Duke Tower in Scotia Square for 5 years, and had the opportunity to speak to many of the students from the English school.. and yeah, most of the Muslim men (and women) avoid eye contact. There were a few who began to respond in a friendly manner after a few months..
I now work as a Commissionaire where my talent with dealing with people is held in high regard.. And I love being able to “chat up” anybody.. I’m very lucky..
Oh and Haligonians are the same as people everywhere, as we all know.. every society has “jerks and douchebags”.. I’ve probably been one myself occasionally.. we ALL have our moods… LOL
Me0w, you expressed my feeling well. There are many comments here that are so embarrassing, but I assume that the visible minorities that visit this site can keep it in perspective, as it is usually the same people making these stupid comments that also bash females, the poor and anyone else who they can point a finger at in an attempt explain why their life is so unsatisfactory (anyone else but themselves).
Your comment:
“And somebody tell me why it is that most people hear ‘immigrant’ and assume that people are coming here from some impoverished third world nation? There’s a big difference between ‘immigrant’ and ‘refugee’, and while there are certainly people immigrating from the third world, many are coming from privileged nations no less ‘civilized’ than ours.”
This was a thought that I had while reading RubyJane’s first post, but her post was fairly general, so I left it. But, the distinction is important, especially since the thread seems to be veering into assumptions of race and some Muslim bashing. The thing is, regardless of whether people moved here from third world countries for safety reasons or they moved here because we enticed them here for our own purposes, I do not want them to have to continuously kiss our ass just because we were here first–it is humiliating for them and for me.
I do expect them to abide by the laws of our country, and if they find them unfair that they follow the appropriate protocol for changing them. I do expect them to have the same tolerance towards other people who live here, no matter what their religion or race or sex or class. It would be nice if they were friendly and courteous. It is hoped that they would work to contribute in a valuable way to the community. But, this is asking no more than what is asked of the rest of the people who live in Canada. The thing is, for some reason, many Canadians seem to expect that the newcomers should be more than human–that they should not feel or act in anyway that is perceived to be negative. I am not talking about the differences in culture here. I am talking about typical human behaviour and tendencies. An pompous ass is a pompous ass no matter the country or religion. Yet, many insist on blaming the nationality or religion for the bad behaviour of the individual. This is a human tendency. OP did it, and many here did it. I guess they have much in common, huh?
The original complaint was about the lack of friendliness OP was experiencing as a newcomer to Canada. He felt race was the reason. The readers felt he was the reason. Judging by the responses here, it seems that both are right.
Well, the OP noticed it and people bitch here EVERY DAY about the rudeness of Haligonians so I’m far from alone in the camp of people who don’t understand why Haligonians choose to be so cold and closed off to others. I mean, every other day it seems someone mutters there ought to be a law preventing people from communicating with each other.
And Floyd, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe you have been around LTWWB for a LONG time and, if that’s the case, there are many posts of mine to review. If you had done that before spewing your doubtful diatribe you would find consistency in my posts because I remain anonymous but I don’t lie for you. I don’t lie for anybody. It’s this quality that sets me apart. I am none of the things you say. HIGH self esteem seems to be the thing Haligonians hate the most. Fit bodies seem to be second on that list and if you’re also a smarty-pantz who doesn’t lie to anybody about anything… Sweet Jesus.
Mikey, the 9 universities comment alludes to the HIGH education level of people in the region, not the contrary. Douche.
See? People just don’t listen. They don’t read and there are few open minds regardless of the nature and tone of this publication. People here have some negative idea in their head and they just cling to that notion disregarding facts in favour of bigger blinders. I have a name for people like that, Mikey. They’re called SHEEP. I don’t fit in for the simple reason that I don’t play these stupid games designed to belittle people.
I’m an immigrant, and I love it here. I’ve had no problems adjusting and have been welcomed.
You, prick, need to get a new attitude.
Kay,
I think you’ve hit on part of the answer right there: you’ve managed to find a “handful” of quality acquaintances—well, if there is one thing I’ve learned along the way, sometimes that’s the best you can ask for.
I tend to be a “quality over quantity” person anyway. I would much rather spend time with the people in my “inner circle” rather than spread myself too thin over a wide network of vague acquaintances.
And I am sooooo not a “rose-coloured glasses” type—you can’t wear those in that old Community Services job that I keep dreging up here. I just made some decisions a long time ago that I couldn’t let those horrors eat away at my soul—it’s too easy to become paralyzed with cynicism, unable to be of use to anyone.
It sounds to me like you are facing two big issues: you really are are out of your element, and you haven’t (yet) found your tribe (at least not here in NS anyway).
Somehow, the geography and climate of the East Coast suits me, so I generally feel “in my element” in a way I cannot feel on the prairie or up north or in the tropics or the West Coast. I don’t know why this is, but I think everyone has their own personal geography that feels “right” to them, and there is not much you can do about that.
The only way I can explain it is that I feel extremely uncomfortable—trapped, even— when I am landlocked. Everything just feels so much more “right” when I am back within sight of the Atlantic Ocean. I don’t know how to describe it other than it feels like being pulled by a magnet.
Other people feel this way about the mountains, the desert, or rivers, or lakes, or forests or wide open plains, big cities or small towns. To each their own. I suspect that you might be facing a similar sense of overall “wrongness” in your life because of something like this. Geography is a powerful influence on the human psyche, to be ignored at your peril.
Finding your tribe: well, if THAT isn’t the biggest of all lifelong human quests, I don’t know what is.
Every place is filled with people who are the kind of people you want to be with and the kind you definitely don’t. It has nothing to do with race or nationality, but everything to do with knowing who you really are and who you need to be with and what you really need to do. What is it that you absolutely cannot live without? Go find it, and along the way you’ll meet people looking for the same things. Life’s too short to waste living someone else’s dreams.
And by the way, I thought I would share with a bit about my neighbors:
Some are retired older people, who maintain go-go-go schedules that put my slacker timetable to shame; some are students—very serious students, some are volunteers with worthy causes, some are artists and writers, one of which is kind of famous. All are decent, interesting, educated, active people, some of whom I know socially and others just to greet in passing.
But I assure you, NOT ONE has ever challenged me to an arm-wrestling match, or peppers their conversation with trailer-park slang or engages in idiotic playground drama.
Regarding the workplace, well, yes, sometimes stuff goes on there that sucks. But MOST of the ordinary day-to-day stuff is just normal—good, smart people trying to get the job done and trying to have a pleasant day while doing it. Really. If it was ALL drama and misery and sleaziness, I wouldn’t have stuck around for as long as I have.
I think you need to really shake some things up for yourself and get out there and find more of the good stuff life offers, focus on what really nourishes your heart, mind, and soul—either in this part of the country or elsewhere.
Really, I wish you the best, and I hope you find it.
Just to clarify,
I am no no way a supporter of any kind of general “Muslim bashing” comment or insult.
One of the posters SPECIFICALLY mentioned that he felt that people avoided eye-contact because they were uncomfortable with him being a Muslim, and I responded by reminding him (in a roundabout way) that this is one of the RULES Muslims THEMSELVES often insist on.
It was really more of a question: how are we supposed to read another person’s mind and know “how much” or “how little” of the Muslim rules of conduct they personally adhere to?
It seems to be the responsiblity of that person to communicate who they are and how they live and what they need. It’s not “the general public’s” job to agonize about guessing correctly in every unique situation.
I am not going to post here again. It’s a waste of time to post on such forums in the first place (though it can be fun) but it’s a SUPER waste of time when there is censorship afoot. Why bother taking the time to express yourself when it’s a fascist forum. It’s too bad that the left-wing liberals running The Coast do not understand liberty. I am a liberal in the true sense of the word, not some hipster Che-wearing coward who doesn’t appreciate the sacrifices made for their freedom (and who would never fight for themselves). To all at The Coast, have fun imposing your pitifully limited world-view on each other.
and while i was speaking about assholes,holla what. i forgot to include you as the biggest one, and most possibly, the biggest loser to grace this site. don’t like what you see or read here, then good bye, don’t let that keyboard stop you from leaving. and you think you are so fucking smart, did you actually read anything in my post to say he/she wasn’t welcome, no you did not, so friend, get fucked.
NSer, your posts were despicable, and I wished that they did not exist. I was ashamed for you.
But, I agree that you should not have been censored. I think people like you should be given enough rope to hang yourself. The reality is that your backwards and hateful opinion does exist. But to hide the ignorant and destructive thoughts of those such as yourself only takes away the victims’ (of your hate-mongering) opportunity to fight back. And, it takes away their supporters opportunity to say, “We are sorry that a member of our community has deliberated insulted you, and we want you to know that most of us do not feel this way.”
Censoring racist, sexist and other ignorant and hate-based opinions minimizes that fact that such opinions do exist. And, to deny that there are opinions such as these does a further injustice to the targeted people who have to live alongside the people who are making these comments. Do you really think that censoring these people will protect the people whom they are trying to hurt? I would rather they spout their nonsense here, where they can be shut down and their victims can fight back and can be supported, than for them to act out their hate in hidden and destructive ways within the community itself.
Have a little trust, Coast editors. I think that you will find that overall your readers are fair and kind. If there is problem, then take care of it. Not by hiding it, but by responding to it yourself.
NSer, you’re gonna make the best bitch ever.
“and while i was speaking about assholes,holla what. i forgot to include you as the biggest one, and most possibly, the biggest loser to grace this site. don’t like what you see or read here, then good bye, don’t let that keyboard stop you from leaving. and you think you are so fucking smart, did you actually read anything in my post to say he/she wasn’t welcome, no you did not, so friend, get fucked.”
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